Project DCH (dirt cheap handheld)

AluLagoa

Still waiting for parts to arrive...

Last time I ordered from aliexpress I got my stuff in three weeks, but this time I will have to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the stuff to arrive, and only 3 weeks have passed.

My internship ends today, so I will have a lot of free time from now on.

I was expecting for the parts to arrive this week, so I would have something to do, but that isn't the case.

Feeling really tempted to buy another display for 6.5€ from a seller from my country so I can get it next week and continue with this project...

moosepr

@AluLagoa yeah shipping on AliExpress can be variable. I tend to pay the extra and go for the 20-40 day option rather than the 30-60 day one.

I'm still waiting for some screens that I ordered at the start of January!

AluLagoa

Decided to order another display from a guy in my country.
Should be here in the next few days, so i can go on with my project.

AluLagoa

Hi!

Finally got everything i needed to start the project!

Here are some photos:
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Controller board and front plate.

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Testing the screen.

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Back.

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Front.

Video of it in action:

Now just need to make some sort of case...

PS: Sorry for the dog hair...

Cheers!

moosepr

Awesome work! 😀

AluLagoa

Thanks!

For about 2h of work is not that bad.

Just did a cardboard case for it:
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AluLagoa

@moosepr
How can i find the buttons that you used on you minimalistic build?
Mine are really hard to the press and kind start to hurt my fingers after a while... Yours look soft to the touch...

moosepr

@AluLagoa yeah they are soft. The only place I know selling them now is adafruit

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3101

I randomly found mine on eBay, but the seller doesn't have any more

AluLagoa

@moosepr
Thanks!
Adafruit wants $45 for shipping, and a seller i found in the UK wants $8 for 10 + shipping.

Well, when I do Version 2 I will 3D print a case, and I will try either to make bigger buttons to press on the tactile switches or use a SNES USB gamepad under the shell.

moosepr

@AluLagoa yeah adafruit shipping can be a pain.

Can probably get a few hundred from China for minimal prices

AluLagoa

Possible next version of the handheld.

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Smaller, much nice looking, possibly 18650 battery on the back.

AluLagoa

Well, trying do desolder the pins on the display was a bust... Acidentally striped one of the contacts...

Lesson learned: Don't mess with something that already works.

obsidianspider

@alulagoa said in Project DCH (dirt cheap handheld):

Don't mess with something that already works.

Where's the fun in that? ;)

DD-Indeed

Interesting project. Sparks up couple ideas on my head as well. Could propably build something similar from a Odroid U3 that I have lying on the drawer, so definitely gotta follow this topic. :)

barrymossel

Really cool. Something like this might be next project (after my full size cab). Still have a 7 inch screen lying around and quite some arcade controls :)

AluLagoa

A friend of mine will give me a DMG-01 case, hopefully that will be big enough to use the components with the connectors.

DD-Indeed

@alulagoa

Game Boy Color's case is big enough for sure, and I think that you can get new ones too. Copy models obviosly, but good for these kind of things.

AluLagoa

@dd-indeed The connectors on the pi and on the screen are vertical, and they take way to much space, I will be lucky if I can fit them on the DMG-01 without bending them.